Small Woodland Owners' Group (SWOG)

Author: Judith

  • Newsletter February 2014

    The February newsletter is available for download, with plenty of news and features to enliven the dankest of days. We have plans for a SWOG meeting in March, a report on the hopes of the RFS for more rigorous squirrel control and a feature about Marston Thrift, an ancient community woodland in Bedfordshire. We hope…

  • Meeting at Marston Vale – 2nd March 2014

    Marston Thrift is a community ASNW woodland on the borders of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. It has been worked by a dedicated group of volunteers since 1973 and it is thanks to them that the woodland has been brought back into management and now thrives. The Wardens of Marston Thrift, Clive and Angela Bucknall, have kindly…

  • Courses for woodland owners

    Many SWOG members have been on courses to improve their woodland knowledge or to learn new skills. We have compiled a list of courses attended by those members who received a grant from Woodlands.co.uk when they purchased their wood. It is searchable by course, subject or county, and includes hyperlinked contact details and short reviews.…

  • Newsletter January 2014

    A very happy new year to everyone! The January newsletter is available here – slightly shorter than usual, but including excellent contributions from several members. Elsewhere in the SWOG website, don’t miss Rich’s article about deer management.

  • December Newsletter 2013

    The December newsletter is here! We have news of an award from the Royal Forestry Society and a request for woodland owners to respond to a Forestry Commission squirrel survey. Articles include: The Vigilant – restoring a Thames barge All I want for Christmas – SWOG members reveal their ideal Christmas gifts Making hay rakes…

  • November 2013 Newsletter

    As the nights draw in, sit back and enjoy the latest SWOG newsletter. With several interesting reports about how owners use their woods and the sustainability of Britain’s woodlands, we also have features on Log cabins for the birds – make a bird box from just one log Our friends in the north – managing…

  • See the woods from the trees at Plumpton College

    The Wood Enterprise Centre is hosting a free day of information and advice around the subject of woodfuel on Tuesday 29th October at at Plumpton College at Woodland Enterprise Centre, Flimwell, East Sussex,TN5 7PR. There will be speakers from the woodfuel industry, and advice on how to apply for grants, as well as demonstrations of…

  • October Newsletter 2013

    A big welcome to all our new SWOG members! The October newsletter is available to read or download  here. This month we have advice from the Forestry Commission about planting to cope with climate change, and news of a Facebook game which will help scientists combat ash dieback (really!) Features include: Horse-logging in the Weald…

  • September Newsletter 2013

    The September newsletter is available here. This month Rich discusses effective and efficient firewood management. Sean Harrison of the Surrey Hills AONB explains how expert help can make woodland management a little easier. We also have news of several woodfairs and a discount voucher for the Bentley Woodfair on 21-22 September. Don’t miss Rich’s pictures…

  • August Newsletter 2013

    As it’s holiday time, the August newsletter includes a couple of family-friendly articles. We hope you enjoy it! Features this month: Building rope bridges in the woods Woodlands.co.uk new photo library The Treezilla project – mapping trees throughout the country.  

  • July Newsletter 2013

    The July newsletter is available for download here. This month, we have reports from Woodfest Wales and the Chiltern Woodland Conference, Sarah Walters writes about Alvecote Wood’s Royal Forestry Society Award, and Rich Hare recalls the therapeutic nature of woodland work. We hope you’re enjoying the summer in your woodlands – please let us know…

  • Alvecote Wood is top of the Tree!

    Many congratulations to SWOG’s own Sarah Walters and her husband Stephen, winners of the Royal Forestry Society’s Excellence in Forestry awards in the Small Woodlands category. Sarah has written a wonderful blog about how they did it here. Read it and be inspired!